Arson raids

The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus primary

After earlier threats, Julian’s Caesar secretly embarks 800 men to row upstream, land to burn and destroy, and the barbarians’ retreat leaves roads open to plunder.

circumstances altered their purpose) they immediately afterwards sent off some others with all speed, to threaten our troops with implacable war if they did not at once quit their territories. 4. And when this was known, the Cæsar, as soon as all was quiet, at the beginning of night embarked 800 men in some small swift boats, with the intention that they should row with all their strength up stream for some distance…